Characteristics of Mineralogy and Space Weathering Observed on the Grains in the Fine Fraction Samples Returned From the C-type Asteroid Ryugu.
Samples returned from near-Earth C-type asteroid Ryugu by the JAXA Hayabusa2 spacecraft have been investigated from June, 2021. Our Min-Pet Fine ("sand") sub-team have investigated mineralogy and petrology and space weathering of grains in the fine fraction of the samples. Space weathering is alteration induced mainly by solar wind irradiation and micrometeoroid impact. Here, we report mineralogy and microstructural and chemical features related to space weathering of Ryugu grains.
Takaaki Noguchi↗